Retracting type theater chair



Dec. 20, 1949 J. J. ROMAN ET AL RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1945 1 rum Mom .Jbhn J: Rama", 'J Merrit If Orton Dec. 20, 1949 J. J. ROMAN ET AL RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR Filed July ll, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilwucnlou Jbbn Jlgoznau *3 Mvriff orfon arrow/ ai MOM Dec. 20, 1949 J. J. ROMAN ET AL 2,492,116

RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR Filed July 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Jblan J: R0man 's? M fiat-riff .K. Orion a f/a1 mdaw Patented Dec. 20, 1949 1 RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR John J. Roman and Merritt K. Orton, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 11 1945, Serial N0. 604,430

Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to opera chairs of the retracting type for use in theaters, auditoriums, and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an improved opera chair of the retracting type which the occupant thereof may move rearwardly in order to permit unobstructed passage of persons in front of him without his having to rise from the seat; to provide such a chair having link-type seat mountings of simple and sturdy construction; to provide such a chair in which the use of rollers, with their attendant noise and necessity of lubrication, is eliminated; to provide such a chair which may be mounted as a unit on pro-installed standards in either straight or curved rows, and dismounted as a unit therefrom; and generally to provide a retracting chair which is effective in use, attractive in appearance, and reasonably economical in manufacture.

These objects are attained by the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational chair of the retracting type;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same showing the seat and back in their forwardly moved positions, and showing the seat in upwardly folded position in broken lines;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same showing the seat and back in rearwardly retracted position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of parts thereof, as viewed from the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the same taken view of an opera on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same taken on l ne 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of parts thereof taken on line 1--1 of Figure 4. showing the mounting members of the chair in positions;

Figure 8 is an inside elevational view of a modified form of mounting member for the chair, and parts adjacent thereto; and

different adjusted Figure 9 is a sectional view thereof taken on a line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, the chair there shown is mounted between spaced upri ht standards I having arm rests 2 and upwardly and rearwardly extending horns 3 on the upper ends of which are mounted brackets 4 as by means of machine screws 5 which may be threaded into the standards. A chair back 6 is mounted between the standards swingably about a horizontal axis, being pivotally connected at opposite sides thereof to brackets 4 on the standards I.

Plates 1 of generally triangular form are pivotally connected at their rearward ends 8 to the back 6 below the mountings of the back on the standards. The upper forward ends of the plates 1 are pivotally connected at 9 to the upper ends of struts l 53 the lower ends of which are pivotally connected at H to mounting members i2 on the lower portions of the standards.

The mounting members 12 are adjustable on the standards both laterally and swingabily about vertical axes, being provided with depending threaded shanks l3 which are thus adjustable between spaced lugs M on the standards I. In this manner slight differences in distances between standards may be compensated for, and also the angular disposition of standards in curved rows. (See Figure 7.) Nuts l5 threaded on the lower ends of the shanks l3 are tightened after the chair is installed to secure these parts in assembly.

In Figures 8 and 9 a modified form of mounting member is shown, which comprises a U-shaped strap I2 into the bight portion [2 of which is welded a depending pin l3 adjustable laterally and swingably about a vertical axis between spaced lugs M on the standard I and provided with nuts I5 on the lower ends thereof for securing these parts in assembly.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2-6 inelusive, a seat I 6 is provided with supporting arms I 1 on opposite sides thereof, which are pivotally connected at l8 to the plates 1, and the seat is thus mounted between the plates turnably to a lowered position for occupancy as indicated in full lines in Figure 6 and to a raised position indicated in broken lines in the same view. The seat is supported in its lowered position by inwardly and upwardly extending lugs l9 on the plates 1 which engage in outwardly struck sockets 20 on the seat supporting arms 11.

The plates '1 are provided with laterally, outwardly extending cylindrical stops 21 having annular rubber cushioning members 22 thereon. The stops 2| extend into arcuate ways 23 pierced in the struts Ill and engage outwardly extending flanges 24, 25 at the ends of the ways 23 in the forward and rearward moved positions respectively of the seat It, thus bringing the seat to a cushioned stop when moved to its forward position or retracted therefrom.

An equalizing bar 26 here shown as tubular in form has its opposite ends welded to the struts I!) thus insuring movement of the struts in unison so that no binding occurs between the various parts of the chair. Tension springs 21 have their forward ends, secured tometal straps .23 welded on the equalizing-bar 26 andtheir rearward en'd's" secured to'bosses 29 cast inthe standards I, and

these springs normally maintain the seat in a retracted position when unoccupied.

The upper forward portions 3il of theplates II. are preferably bent outwardly and downwardly to form protective shields to reventtheclbthingf of a chair occupant from becoming callgl t'be;

33 may be turnedso as to adjust the sp acebewe n t P a rand-sh e d am t sa i the amount f friction. exerted by the felt pads 3 m Par ah? and v will 'thus be, seen th the retracting chair hswnand s d; i :sim yen rd r structed land s designed for s nooth and effective pe'ration, It is to -bepnderstood that numerous details ofjheparticular embodiments of the invention herein disclosed may be altered 21 1 1 ?w the-inventionas the same is defined by the following claims We claimi'z 71 A a, A, ,j

ir: m ris ng-s ac d u ri h s ancardspa pack mounted o the -standards swingyab ut a ho izqn elax s; lates p yco nected- -t th rl eer end et e s t sides o the back below themounting thereof and having ds en nen t o s r i d.- thv la r l y p oeariihq t. partin firm the spiri f jecting stops thereon; a seat mounted between warme tan 's r tsapivotal y m n at their lower ends on-thestandards and pivotally connectedi-at their upper-germs to said plates respectively; said I struts haying forwardly-rearwardly elongated portions approximately midway between their pper and lower pivotal connections-and said portions being provided with forwardly-rearwardly; extending ways'into which the s ops onthe pl es xtend, sa d p b in d p e d,to engagetheforward andrearward ends of said ways in the iorwardlygand rearwardly moved positions respectively of ,the seat. I A chaircomprising, spaced -upright standards; aback mounted on the standards swingablyabout a horizontal axis; plates pivotally connected at their rear ends :tcithe opposite sides of the back below the' mounting' thereof and having depending" portions provided with laterally projecting" stops thereo a seat mounted between the piv'otally mounted at' heir. 19W g in sen it tates ailiir r ell ecie tth fluii e ends. to a la r'enctive y, idij tr i hav n .for'wardiyrrearf wardlyelongatedIportionsapproximately midway between A their kliper andf lower .tpivotal connections and. said portions Lbeing. provided with forwardly rearwardly extending} ways 1 into which th stops onthe platesrextend said stops being adapted to engage the'lforward and rearward ends of said ways int-he forwardly and reartiveljifi and side wardly moved positions respectively of the seat; and cushioning members on said stops.

3. A chair comprising spaced upright standards; a back mounted on the standards swingably about a horizontal axis; plates pivotally connected at their rear gr ds tothe opposite sides of the baclikbelow the mounting; thereof. and having'stops thereon; a seat having supporting arms connected to said plates swingably about a hori- 4. A chair comprising spaced upright standa q nted 10: st nda d swi 1 re l l es.,.. ir all K t ne ts? ne' rn te s de' below themounting thereof and hav a seat mounted betweenrlthe nirqia l r .i 'l d ath rf ow gesia darsiaand R otel conn t t l j ai sf p fiii flhfi fi a l soii is n sracd pri t s a d? 'ards each having" horizontally spaced inwardly Weedi 1 .91 th lle ir rtiq t erc i as when a stand ds. ,swirigably about a horizontal plates pivotally connected amber... rear; si retire op o vsides of the back below th; mounting thereof i a seat repented be ween t e relate ha n i members havin ,d risildi s; Sh 91 1 95 5 b en t new. Pil -Jews? spo sa s a said moun ng' nembers being adiustable later- I ingably aboutlvertical axes; means for ecurin v1 fem 1e lesfme sb itsf i e i dp sitions; struts pivotally connected attheirlower es ie e 129.13 ti e a in rs i lr i Ii t -th r nn ec..;ne madame s means fordimiting the forward and rearward movements of thjs'eati OHN BQ L. A v MER'RITT K. ORTON.

W A heir:

EFERENQE a UNITED "STATES PATENTS 694,990 Red; May .11, 1992 1,339,445. Ines g May 11, 920 1,352,415 Satterl e V V 1920 

